New Tomb Raider game set to go all open world on our asses, will feature younger Lara

Expect a Lara, Lara laughs in new Japanese adventure

Hmmm, Lara Croft? Is that the one who slides about on her knees doing fancy pirouettes while shooting folk? Nah, that’s the chick out of Wet. Oh, Lara Croft, the one that used to do something in tombs? Raid, was it? Gotcha. Our scathing cynicism aside, Miss Croft has recently turned in a very respectable DLC effort with The Guardian of Light and now it looks the next proper entry in the Tomb Raider series could be about to go open world.

According to the Latest issue of PC Gamer, the magazine’s Spy section suggests Lara’s next adventure could be a free roaming affair. They say it’s: “Set on a Japanese island, the idea is to have one, cohesive level with multiple ways around the puzzles.”

Above: Tomb Raider: Chronicles in all its creepy priest-peddling glory

Interesting. The mag goes onto say: “We'll also be exploring Lara's origins, so she'll be younger and inexperienced in the ways of raiding tombs." Is it just us or do we seem to have explored Miss Croft’s roots about 14 shitting times now? The last time we saw a younger Lara was in the more than decent Chronicles, so perhaps going back to her teenage roots might not be such a bad thing.

We’re not too sure about the whole open-world concept, mind. Tomb Raider has always been at its best when guiding you along in semi linear environments, while letting you explore more expansive, but still fairly structured platform sections. We’re certainly not against the idea, though. And if opening up the game world spices up the rather stale TR formula, we’re all for it. Just go easy on the Kraken action this time Square Enix, eh?

Above: Shooting a big octopus thing in the face; truly the soul of every good Lara game

Excited about the prospect of an open world Tomb Raider game? Couldn't give a mummy's petrified big toe about Lara anymore? Sound off in the comments below.